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Introduction of Herbs in China |
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Original text special to china.tyfo.com
In China, herbs are
called herbal medicine, which is made up of roots, bark, flowers,
seeds, fruits, leaves, and branches. Herbal medicine has been a part of
the written history of Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 4000
years. There are over 3000 different herbs that can be used for medical
purposes. Only 300 to 500 of these herbs are commonly used. It is
important to use herbs grown in China rather than outside of their
native environment. One must use the right herb from the right resource
to get the full benefit. Herbal therapy has three main
functions: (1) to treat the immediate problem, such as killing bacteria
or a virus, (2) to strengthen the body, helping it to recover, and (3)
to maintain health.
Herbs
are processed before use. There are several reasons for this. First,
processing reduces any possible side-effects by detoxifying the herbs,
removing any poisons. Another reason for processing herbs is for easier
storage. Processing also filters out impurities such as dirt and sand,
and can tone down a strong taste or smell. Finally, processing an herb
can strengthen its function. Herbs,
like anything you put in your body, should be taken with a certain
amount of caution. Some herbs are too strong for pregnant women and may
cause miscarriage. Certain foods can have adverse effects on the herbal
therapy. While taking herbs, one should avoid food that is raw (fruit
is okay, but vegetables should be cooked), greasy, strong tasting or
smelling, difficult to digest (such as beef), or irritating to the
digestive system (like spicy foods).
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